Uniti’s $5m Future Jobs Fund grant to create 200-plus jobs
ADELAIDE internet company Uniti Wireless will use its $5 million state government grant to create more than 200 new jobs over the next few years.
ADELAIDE internet company Uniti Wireless will use its $5 million state government grant to create more than 200 new jobs over the next few years.
The high-speed internet services provider, established by Che Metcalfe and Sasha Baranikov, said it would use the Future Jobs Fund grant to “pump millions into the state economy”.
“The company is growing very fast off the back of consumer dissatisfaction with the NBN (National Broadband Network) and will be accelerating its national expansion to metropolitan Perth, Sydney and Brisbane before the end of the year,” Uniti said in a statement.
Uniti, which currently operates in Adelaide and Melbourne metropolitan areas, was this year ranked among the top three fastest growing SA companies with an average revenue growth of 176 per cent.
The company faced recent headwinds with the sudden exit of its chief executive Rick Correll in April after six months on the job, but remains on course for strong growth, Mr Metcalfe said.
Uniti attracted multi-million dollars in investment from Vocus founder James Spenceley and Amcom founder Tony Grist in 2016.
The business now employs more than 65 staff and offers a fixed wireless broadband network in Adelaide and Melbourne to feed growing demand for its internet services.
Employment opportunities are expected to be created across engineering, software development, customer support, sales and marketing with the group still forging ahead with its plans for an initial public offer to list on the Australian sharemarket.
Uniti’s chief administrative officer Ali Foster welcomed the grant.
“We are pleased the (state) government is backing us financially and can see the importance of providing an alternative to the NBN to solve a key problem that is holding back Australia’s productivity and growth: universal access to reliable and super fast broadband.”
“We have more than 65 people currently working for us and are committed to building a
strong local workforce. Our aim is to create more than 200 new jobs and pump millions into the state economy over the next few years.”
Uniti Wireless offers a “fibre through the air” solution using fixed wireless technology and fibre backhaul (getting data to a point from which it can be transmitted to the satellite).